Three years after the first movie theater reopened in Saudi Arabia – following removal of a religion-related ban – the kingdom has become the top theatrical market in the Middle East and is turning into a major driver for Arabic film production.
“At the moment Saudi is on a different path from the rest of the world,” says David Hancock, an analyst at London-based Omdia, which sees this new market as having the potential to be ranked among the top 10-15 territories for box office worldwide by 2024.
By 2024 Omdia estimates there will be 1,400 screens in Saudi Arabia, up from a current count of less than 300 screens in 2020 with more than 600 screens expected in 2021. In 2020 Saudi box office was up 3% to $115 million, bucking the downward trend in the rest of the world.
But besides growing box office and screen count, just like in other parts of the world such as China where there is moviegoing growth,...
“At the moment Saudi is on a different path from the rest of the world,” says David Hancock, an analyst at London-based Omdia, which sees this new market as having the potential to be ranked among the top 10-15 territories for box office worldwide by 2024.
By 2024 Omdia estimates there will be 1,400 screens in Saudi Arabia, up from a current count of less than 300 screens in 2020 with more than 600 screens expected in 2021. In 2020 Saudi box office was up 3% to $115 million, bucking the downward trend in the rest of the world.
But besides growing box office and screen count, just like in other parts of the world such as China where there is moviegoing growth,...
- 3/4/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Similar News
Doctor Who Space Babies: Easter Eggs You Probably Missed
- 5/10/2024
- EpicStream
Control: James McAvoy’s psychological thriller starts production with newly announced cast
- 5/9/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
The Will Smith Box Office Bomb That Changed How Director George Miller Approached Furiosa
- 5/9/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
The Other Black Girl Cancelled at Hulu
- 5/10/2024
- by Keisha Hatchett
- TVLine.com
‘Law & Order’ Will Have A Major Casting Shakeup In Season 24
- 5/10/2024
- by Amanda Blankenship
- TV Shows Ace
‘Law & Order’ Bidding Farewell to Camryn Manheim
- 5/10/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
General Hospital Scintillating Cast Changes In 2024—Shock Exits, Surprise Recasts, Fan Fave Returns!
- 5/12/2024
- by Tanya Clark
- Celebrating The Soaps
CBS Squashes Hopes 'Blue Bloods' Will Be Uncanceled
- 5/11/2024
- by Megan Elliott
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Is Blue Bloods Romance Imminent? Did 9-1-1 Cause Double Take? Why Didn’t NBC Play Up Milestones? Another Cleaning Lady Triangle? More TV Qs!
- 5/10/2024
- by Vlada Gelman, Matt Webb Mitovich, Dave Nemetz, Ryan Schwartz, Nick Caruso, Keisha Hatchett, Kimberly Roots, Rebecca Iannucci, Andy Swift and Charlie Mason
- TVLine.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Swings to $72 Million at Overseas Box Office, Mighty $129 Million Globally
- 5/12/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
BAFTA TV Awards: ‘Top Boy,’ ‘Happy Valley’ Win Two Each as ‘The Crown,’ ‘Black Mirror’ Miss Out
- 5/12/2024
- by Lily Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Roger Corman, Pioneering Independent Producer and King of B Movies, Dies at 98
- 5/12/2024
- by Richard Natale and Tim Gray
- Variety - TV News
Box Office: ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Climbs to $22 Million Opening Day
- 5/11/2024
- by Jordan Moreau and Michaela Zee
- Variety - Film News
Mark Damon, Actor Turned Indie Film Exec and ‘Monster’ Producer, Dies at 91
- 5/13/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Aida Rodriguez: Unpacking My Childhood Traumas Through Comedy Is Cathartic
- 5/6/2024
- by Aida Rodriguez
- Popsugar.com
How Erik Rivera Uses Comedy to Heal and Help Others
- 5/6/2024
- by Miguel Machado
- Popsugar.com
Ian Lara: Comedy Gave Me the Strength to Overcome My Mother's Death
- 5/6/2024
- by Ian Lara
- Popsugar.com
Sasha Merci: How Comedy Has Helped Me Navigate Depression
- 5/6/2024
- by Sasha Merci
- Popsugar.com
Gina Brillon: The Loss of My Grandmother Pushed Me to Pursue Comedy
- 5/6/2024
- by Gina Brillon
- Popsugar.com
Walton Goggins Found Transforming Into the Ghoul in ‘Fallout’ Challenging: ‘It Was Extremely Uncomfortable’
- 5/13/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Screenwriting Couple Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver Offer Advice on Breaking into Industry: ‘Try to Make the Stories as Personal as Possible’
- 5/12/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Amy Poehler Wants ‘Inside Out’ Series to Be Like Michael Apted’s ‘Up’ Saga, Show Character Riley as ‘a Young Adult, and a Young Mother’
- 5/12/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Justin Lin Believes Cultural Labels Can Hurt Careers: ‘I Do Think There Are Restrictions’
- 5/12/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
‘Kingdom of the Planet Apes’ Is Not Enough to Achieve a $100 Million Box-Office Weekend
- 5/12/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Swings to $72 Million at Overseas Box Office, Mighty $129 Million Globally
- 5/12/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
Roger Corman, Pioneering Independent Producer and King of B Movies, Dies at 98
- 5/12/2024
- by Richard Natale and Tim Gray
- Variety - TV News
Box Office: ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Climbs to $22 Million Opening Day
- 5/11/2024
- by Jordan Moreau and Michaela Zee
- Variety - Film News
Walton Goggins Found Transforming Into the Ghoul in ‘Fallout’ Challenging: ‘It Was Extremely Uncomfortable’
- 5/13/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Korea Box Office: ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Opens Second as ‘Roundup: Punishment’ Wins Third Weekend
- 5/13/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety - Film News
BAFTA TV Awards: ‘Top Boy,’ ‘Happy Valley’ Win Two Each as ‘The Crown,’ ‘Black Mirror’ Miss Out
- 5/12/2024
- by Lily Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Floor Renewed for Seasons 2 and 3 at Fox
- 5/13/2024
- by Ryan Schwartz
- TVLine.com
Oprah Winfrey Regrets Being a ‘Major Contributor’ to Diet Culture: ‘I Own What I’ve Done, and Now I Want to Do Better’
- 5/13/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety - TV News
SNL S49 E19: Who Got the Most (and Least) Screen Time?
- 5/13/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- LateNighter
30 Sexiest Women of 2023 (on TV and Movies)
- 5/12/2024
- by Jimmy P
- buddytv.com